Robin Ghosh, of Bengali descent, belonged to the Christian faith and was born in Baghdad in 1939.
He was the husband of Shabnam, an actress of Bengali descent who was the most successful film heroine of Urdu films in Pakistan. They resided in Pakistan until the late 1990s and then moved to Bangladesh where he passed away in 2016.
Robin Ghosh was the most successful music composer of Urdu films made in former East Pakistan.
He had the honor of composing music for the first commercial Urdu film made in Dhaka, "Chanda" (1962), and the music arrangement for the most successful Urdu film in terms of weeks running in Karachi, "Aina" (1977). Robin Ghosh composed songs for nearly forty films, with close to two hundred songs. He gained more popularity in Pakistan than his ancestral homeland, Bangladesh. His year-by-year performances and other significant events and film records were somewhat like this.
Robin Ghosh began his film career with Bengali films. Most of the Urdu films made in Dhaka were actually Bengali films dubbed in Urdu and released in West Pakistan. The director Ihthisham's Urdu film "Chanda" (1962) was the first film for which he arranged the music. All songs written by Suror Baraqvi were sung by local singers, including Firdousi Begum, the most famous singer of Urdu films. None of the songs of this first commercial film of East Pakistan made in Dhaka became popular. Shabnam and Rahman became familiar with Urdu films from this film.
In his second film "Talaash" (1963), Robin Ghosh introduced singer Bashir Ahmed, who became the most popular singer of Dhaka films. They were versatile artists who were singers, composers, and lyricists at the same time. The film "Doraha" (1967) was a great example of their all-around performance. The song "Kuchh Apni Kahen, Kuchh Meri Sunen" from this film was appreciated, which was sung separately by Firdousi Begum and Bashir Ahmed. In the same film, they apparently sang a playful song "Rikshaw Wala Matwala" with Bashir Ahmed, but the serious rendition of this song was also apparently done by Qazi Anwar Hussain. Shabnam and Rahman were in central roles under the direction of director Ihthisham's brother Mustafiz.
In 1964, three films by Robin Ghosh were released, but none of the songs became hits. In the film "Pesay" (1964), he sang for the first time with the Western Pakistani singers Nahid Niazi, Irene Perveen, and Ahmed Rushdi. In the same film, Faiz Hashmi also wrote songs for the first time for a Dhaka film, while singer Bashir Ahmed wrote his first song under the name BA Deep, which was recorded in Ahmed Rushdi's voice.
Shabnam and Robin Ghosh got married on October 21, 1965. In the same year, their second film "Bandhan" (1964) was released, which was the first film where Shabnam was not the heroine. Out of Robin Ghosh's 37 Urdu films, only eleven films were without his actress wife Shabnam. This led many to speculate that Robin got films because of his wife. It should be noted that the romance between Shabnam and Robin continued for a long time, and finally, they got married on October 21, 1965. The third film of the same year was "Karwan" (1964), in which Robin Ghosh sang his first solo song with the most popular singer of the time, Salim Raza, "Teri Tasveer Banata Hoon, Mita Deta Hoon." None of the songs from these three films became popular.
In 1965, no film by Robin Ghosh was released, but in 1966, two films came out. The first film was "Bayghana" (1966), in which the superstar of Urdu films, Nadeem, recorded his first song with Farida Khanum, "Main Tujh Se Mohabbat Karta Hoon, So Jaan Se Tujh Pe Marta Hoon."
The most memorable film of Robin Ghosh's career till 1967 was "Chakori", which was Nadeem's first film as a hero. This film did good business in Karachi, and local boys Nadeem became overnight superstars. The songs sung by Nadeem, Firdousi Begum, and Ahmed Rushdi, "Kabhi To Tum Ko Yaad Aayein Ge Ye Baharein Ye Sama," and the separate songs by Majeed Alam and Firdousi Begum, "Woh Mere Samne Tasveer Bane Baithay Hain," were very popular. Impressed by the success of this film, Robin Ghosh and Shabnam decided to call Dhaka their home.
In 1968, two films by Robin Ghosh were released. The film "Tum Mere Ho" (1968) directed and composed by Suroor Barabankvi was made in Dhaka, which introduced Shabnam and Nadeem as a film pair for the first time. The second film, "Jahan Tum Wahan Hum" (1968), was made in Karachi and was Robin Ghosh's solo film with filmmaker and director Parvez Malik. Shabnam's pair was with Waheed Murad in this film, and the song "Mujhe Talash Thi Jis Ki, Woh Hum Safar Tum Ho..." sung by Ahmed Rushdi and Mala became very popular.
After moving to West Pakistan, conditions were not very favorable for Robin Ghosh. The competition was tough because at that time the Pakistani film industry was in its golden age, and the top musicians were at the peak of their artistry. In 1969, Robin Ghosh's only film released was "Daagh," which was actually his last film made in Dhaka.
For the next three years, no film of Robin Ghosh was released. He was based in Karachi where B-grade films were being made, while the main film industry was in Lahore. In 1972, Robin Ghosh's solo film "Ehsaas" was released, directed by the editor and founder of Filmi Week Nazrul Islam, and directed by a Bengali-origin director. All the songs of this film were well-liked. It was his first film with Runa Laila, and the ghazal written by Suroor Barabankvi, "Humain Kho Kar Bohat Pachtao Gay, Jab Hum Nahin Honge..." became hugely popular. The first song by Mehdi Hassan, "Aapka Husn Jo Dekha To Khuda Yaad Aaya," was also in this film, along with Ahmed Rushdi and Shehnaz Begum's song "Ruk Jaao, Abhi Ruk Jaao..." which was a very heart-touching song, and Rashid's song "Allah Allah, Meri Mehfil Mein Woh Mehman Aaya" was also remarkable. The beautiful duet "Bheegi Bheegi Thandi Hawa" was also in this film, sung by Runa Laila and Masood Rana.
During this time, due to the busy schedule of his actress wife Shabnam, Robin Ghosh had moved to Lahore, but the filmmakers and directors there showed great indifference towards him. In such a situation, another Bengali filmmaker, director, and hero Rahman allowed him to arrange music in his film "Chahat" (1974). The theme song of this film, "Sawan Aaye, Sawan Jaye..." was a superhit song, which he supposedly sang with his favorite singer Akhlaq Ahmed, who had sung his most masculine songs. He sang the masculine songs on the second and third numbers with Ahmed Rushdi and Mehdi Hassan. In this film, he also composed the first superhit romantic song written by Khwaja Parvez, "Pyar Bhare Do Sharmile Nain..."
In the same year, in the film "Sharafat" (1974) directed by director Nazrul Islam, Robin Ghosh also sang a super hit song composed by Kaleem Usmani, "Tere Bhige Badan Ki Khushboo Se, Lehrein Bhi Hui Mastani Si..." In the same film, he sang with his favorite singer for the first time, Neera Noor, and it was a famous duet with Akhlaq Ahmed, "O Mere Sang Chala Ek Khubsurat Saathi." No song in the film "Miss Happy" (1974) became popular. In this film, he sang three songs with Nadeem, which is the record of his songs sung in any film. Both of these last films were directed by Aslam Suleman.
In 1975, two films by Robin Ghosh were released. The first film, "Do Saathi" (1975), was the second attempt by the filmmaker, director, and hero Rahman. Most of the songs of this unsuccessful film became superhits. The two songs of Akhlaq Ahmed, "Dekhoye Kaun Aa Gaya, Ban Ke Nasha Chha Gaya" and "Ek Thi Gudiya Badi Bhooli Bhali" became very popular. In this film, he also sang the famous song with Ghulam Abbas for the first time, "Aise Woh Sharmayein Jaise Mehnga Chhaye." The second film of the year, "Anmol," was also melodic but unsuccessful. In this film, the duets of his favorite singers Akhlaq Ahmed and Neera Noor, "Raat Bhar Jiya Mora Mujhe Kyun Sataaye" and "Kyun Na Raahon Mein Khilayan Bichhaaye..."
In 1976, all three films of Robin Ghosh remained unsuccessful, and not a single song was deprived of success. In the film "Gudiya" (1976) directed by S. Suleman, he sang for the first time with his second favorite singer Mehnaz. The first film as a director and director of Shamim Ara, "Jeewo Aur Jeene Do" (1976), was also an unsuccessful film when there was special confusion about the film "Anokhi" (1976) directed by director Khursheed. The hit song of this film, "Suno Suno, Jo Tum Kaho, Tumhari Har Khushi Pe Apni Jaan Waar Doon..." was sung by Naheed Akhtar according to the Gramophone Record, although only Robin Ghosh's name was written on the film's poster.
Robin Ghosh never sang a song with Nahid Akhtar and Madam Noor Jehan throughout his entire film career. Various rumors have circulated regarding this matter. Some people attempt to portray it as a traditional animosity of Bengalis towards Punjabis, forgetting that Bengalis did not favor Urdu speakers either. The first chaos in united Pakistan was due to the conflict between Urdu and Bengali languages, which is a bitter history. If Robin Ghosh had hatred towards Punjabis, he would not have sung songs with Salim Raza, Naheed Niazi, Najma Niazi, Mala, Irene Parveen, Masood Rana, A. Nayyar, and Ghulam Abbas, all of whom were Punjabis. In fact, every artist has their own style and preferences, which is a natural phenomenon. Sometimes it's a matter of coincidence as to which artist is suitable for which song or melody.
Robin Ghosh generally composed songs for soft and melodious voices, and the voices of Madam Noor Jehan and Nahid Akhtar did not fit into this category. Certainly, the biggest reason was that he did not compose songs for these two great singers. Besides, no great artist ever depended on another artist. Recently, actress Shabnam was asked the same question, and she replied that Robin Sahib had rehearsed a song with Madam, but he was not satisfied, so the matter did not proceed further. This is not an isolated incident; Nasir Bazmi also rejected a song sung by Mehdi Hassan and opted for Mujeeb Alam, and it turned out to be successful. No artist is indispensable in any art.
In 1977, Robin Ghosh's biggest film "Aaina" was released, in which all the songs became popular. The theme song of this superhit film directed by Nazrul Islam, "Mujhe Dil Se Na Bhulana..." was sung four times, and this song was by Mehdi Hassan, Mahnaz, Niera Noor, and Alamgir. Another popular song of the film was Mehdi Hassan's "Kabhi Mein Sochta Hoon...", while Niera Noor's song "Roothay Ho Phir Tum Ko Kaise Manaon, Piya, Bolo Na..." also became very popular. This film was released on March 18, 1977, at the Bambino Cinema in Karachi, where it ran continuously for 47 weeks. Then the film was transferred to the Scala Cinema, where it ran for 132 weeks continuously, and in total, it set a record of running for 401 weeks. This film, after running for four years, nine months, and 27 days, was withdrawn from cinemas on January 14, 1982, which is a unique record for any film running for such a long time in Karachi.
In 1978, Robin Ghosh's two films were released. Nazrul Islam's film "Amber" (1978) was a superhit musical film in which two songs by Mehdi Hassan became very popular, "Thahra Hai Samaan, Hum Tum Hain Jahan..." and "Jis Din Se Dekha Hai Tum Ko Sanam..." Mehnaz's song "Mujhe Le Chal Yahan Se Door Anjuman Mein..." and Alamgir's song "Milay Do Saathi, Khilay Do Kaliyan..." were also popular songs. The songs of the film "Anmol Mohabbat" (1978) were also good, among which Mohammad Ali's song "Yeh Samaan, Pyar Ka Samaan..." became very popular. This film, co-directed and directed by Shabab Kiranvi, was Robin Ghosh's only film, which was unsuccessful.
In 1980, Robin Ghosh's two films were with director Nazrul Islam, which were superhits. The film "Bandish" (1980) was the Urdu film that ran for the most weeks in Lahore until then.
The songs of this film were also very good, among which Akhlaq Ahmed's song "Sona Na Chandi, Na Koi Mahal..." stood out, along with all the other songs. Akhlaq Ahmed's song "Samaan, Woh Pyar Ka Samaan..." was also well-liked in the film "Nahi Abhi Nahi" (1980). This superhit film introduced two young heroes, Faisal and Ayaz.
This period was the decline of Urdu films when very few Urdu films were successful. In Robin Ghosh's last dozen films, no significant songs were found, although some songs were quite good for the film's limit, but they did not count in popular songs. He arranged the music for the film "Aahat" (1982) with director Mohammad Javaid Fazil. Akhlaq Ahmed's song "Chaman Chaman, Kali Kali..." was well-liked, but the film was not understood by anyone. Director Hassan Askari's film "Daurian" (1984) was made on a political subject but no song became popular.
In Hassan Askari's film "Hum Aur Tum" (1985), Robin Ghosh sang his first complete Punjabi song, "Aj Tohra Veikh Nuraliaan Ve Tere Sadqay Jawaan..." with Salma Agha. This was his first film as an actor and singer. This was also a common practice, as the song was sung in Punjabi and was considered a traditional song due to the film circuit's compulsion. The film "Rang" (1993) was made in Dhaka, which was released in Pakistan, and starred Shabnam and Razzaq. He is also remembered for his music in the film "Joriya Wo Meri Hai" (1995), directed by Syed Noor, but three songs were composed by three other musicians, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Tafo, and Amir Munir. His name also appears in the solo film "Ghoonghat" (1996) with director Shahzad Rafique, and in the last film "Salute" (2016) with director Shahzad Rafique.
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